Overview

You can apply as a representative of an overseas business if you’re either:

• the sole representative of an overseas business planning to set up either a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary

• an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK

You must also meet the other eligibility requirements.

​

How long you can stay

The visa lets you stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years.

You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years.

After you’ve been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK.

​

Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

​

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• work for your employer, full time

• bring your family (‘dependants’) with you to the UK

• apply to extend your visa

• apply to settle in the UK after you’ve been here for 5 years

You cannot:

• work for yourself or any other business

• stay in the UK if the sole representative arrangement is ended by your employer

• switch to this visa from any other visa category

• get public funds

​

Eligibility

To be eligible for this visa you must:

• have enough money to support yourself without help from public funds

• meet the English requirement

​

To apply as a sole representative you must:

• be recruited and employed outside the UK by an active and trading business

(whose headquarters and principal place of business are, and will remain, outside the UK)

• have the skills, experience and knowledge to do the role

• hold a senior position within the business (but do not own or control the majority of it) and have full authority to make decisions on its behalf

• intend to establish the overseas business’s first commercial presence in the UK, either as a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary

 

You may also be eligible if the business has a legal entity in the UK that does not employ staff or do any business. if your employer has been working to establish a UK branch or subsidiary, but it is not yet set up, you can replace a previous sole representative.

 

Newspaper, news agency or broadcast employees

As an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation, you can come to the UK if you’re being posted here on a long-term assignment.